Academy Offers Admission to 465 Applicants

Late nights spent laughing with dorm mates. Rows of feet stomping the assembly stage in unison. The exhilaration of a hockey match. The joy of a first snow.On March 10, these were just a few of the Exeter moments shared with newly accepted students in a film titled “A Second Home.” The video was sent in an email to 435 applicants across the globe, notifying them of their admittance to Phillips Exeter.This year, the Academy received 2,325 applications from 34 states and 26 countries, ranging from Stockholm, Sweden to Bogota, Columbia. The acceptance rate this year was 20 percent, with 7.6 percent day students and 92.4 percent boarders. In addition, approximately $7.9 million dollars of financial aid was offered to the newly admitted families.Due to the current, unusually large class of 2017 and the usual number of applicants, this year’s admitted new lowers have been the fewest in twelve years, according to Director of Admissions Michael Gary.To aid in the decision making process, 44 faculty members read and commented upon the applications of this year’s pool. The group then collectively selected which students to offer places, Gary said.Mathematics instructor Joseph Wolfson, a member of the Admissions Committee, read prospective students’ files. Out of the impressive range of applications, he remembered a few special examples in particular. Wolfson described, for instance, a blind female candidate from Michigan who described how she rode around her farm in a golf cart, accompanied by her pet chicken.Fellow mathematics instructor, Stephanie Girard, who read 10th grade applications, reflected upon this year’s skilled competition. She noted that the high quality of applicants increased the already difficult threshold for admission. As a result she made more decisions to turn away competent applicants. “The 10th grade applications this year were as strong as they have ever been, which is both a blessing and a curse,” Girard said. “We turn away so many wonderful students since we have only a limited number of spaces available.”Girard noted, however, that the incoming lowers would be a perfect addition to the student body and was confident of the students’ potential for success. “Our incoming tenth graders will round out the class of 2017 beautifully,” she said. “They will add their unique talents and personalities to an already impressive group.”Gary agreed that this year’s admitted students are exuberant and talented and all exemplify the qualities of a competent Exonian. “They continue to be remarkably smart, talented and caring,” Gary said.Committee members were confident that all the students would bring a wide variety of interests and talents to the already diverse campus. Among the accepted students were a soloist and one of only two Americans in the 100-member Vienna Boys' Choir and a member of the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad team.Many faculty members on the Admissions Committee noticed that a high percentage of applicants were siblings of current students.“I discovered a whole lot of siblings more than in recent years,” Wolfson said. “This could have been a statistical anomaly.” Incoming prep Anna Clark, sister of Thomas Clark ’13 and Teresa Clark ’12, shared which activities she was interested in participating at Exeter.“From my brother Thomas, I've heard quite a bit about different clubs. I can't wait to join a club, specifically linguistics or cooking, and meet other kids who enjoy something I do,” Clark said.Clark also shared why she had decided to apply to Exeter. She said that she was especially excited to transition from lecture-based classes to a discussion-based style of learning.“I was very interested in this way of learning, especially since my school only teaches us through the traditional style of lecturing and note-taking, which didn't suit me very well,” she added.Incoming prep Charlotte Polk, sister of Marcus ’15 and Mason ’15 Polk, said that the Harkness method seemed to promote in-depth discussions. “I sat in on a few classes when I visited my brothers, and the Harkness style of learning looked fantastic,” Polk said.In addition, Polk added that she was interested in studying in an environment with a diverse group of classmates. “I really liked the idea of having and learning with friends from all over the world,” she said.Although both Polk and Clark have already accepted their place at the Academy, many of this year’s admitted applicants will visit campus next week to attend "Experience Exeter,” a re-visit program.